Harun al-Rashid

Harun al-Rashid (17 March 763-24 March 809) was the Caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate from 786 to 809, succeeding al-Hadi and preceding al-Amin.

Biography
Harun al-Rashid was born in 763, the son of al-Mahdi. Harun al-Rashid succeeded Caliph al-Hadi upon his death in 786, and he moved his court to ar-Raqqah in Syria. Harun al-Rashid became a friend of Charlemagne, the Emperor of the Frankish Empire, and sent him an elephant named Abul-Abbas, a colossal tent with multi-colored curtains, and a mechanical clock. He is also mentioned in the legendary Arabian Nights collection of stories, which he edited. He died in 809 and was succeeded by al-Amin.